baked beans

Southern baked beans consist of navy or kidney beans slow-cooked in a sweet and savory sauce. The beans are first soaked overnight in water, and then cooked until they are tender. The sauce uses a combination of ingredients such as tomato sauce, canned tomatoes, molasses or brown sugar, mustard, onions, and bacon. The sauce is cooked until it forms a thick, rich mixture.

Place the beans in a casserole dish or a cast iron pot and cover with the sauce. Cook for several hours, allowing the flavors to meld together and the sauce to thicken. The final product has a rich and savory flavor. Serve baked beans as a side dish or topped with grated cheese, chopped green onions or jalapeño pepper, or sour cream.